Tropical Rainforests

Question 1

What is an ecosystem

Answer 1

A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, firming a dynamic unit

Question 2

What is a biome

Answer 2

A biome is a large scale ecosystem eg. Tropical rainforests or Tundra

Question 3

What are so special about tropical rainforests

Answer 3

The rainforests are our most biodiverse ecosystem-they have the biggest variety of living things. They cover less than 7% of the earths land but hold over half the known species of plants and animals

Question 4

Where are TRF located

Answer 4

Tropical rainforests are located in a belt around the equator ( 5 degrees northa and south)
The largest rainforests are in Brazil (south America ) Congo (Africa) and Indonesia (south east Asia)

Question 5

Name some examples of rainforests

Answer 5

Amazon in Brazil
Congo
Madagascar
SE Asia
WE Australia

Question 6

What is the climate in a rainforest like

Answer 6

The climate found in tropical rainforests is called an equatorial (close to equator) climate. It is hot and wet throughout the year. Rainfall is heavy and falls during most afternoons. There are no seasons (no winters or summers). One day is very similarly to the next. The weather is very predictable

Question 7

Give examples of locations of rainforest

Answer 7

Amazon in South America
Congo
Madagascar
SE Asia
WE Asia

Question 8

What is the climate of a rainforest like

Answer 8

The climate found in tropical rainforests is called an equatorial (close to equator) climate. It is hot and wet throughout the year. Rainfall is heavy and falls during most afternoons. There are no seasons (no winter or summers). One day is very similar to the next and the weather is very predictable.

Question 9

Explain the forming of convectional rainfall

Answer 9

1. Sunrises high in the sky by midday
2. Sun heats up the ground
3. Air next to the ground is heated
4. Water evaporates from the ground and trees
   5.warm air rises
5. Air cools and condensation occurs
   7.white cumulus clouds form
6. Cumulonimbus storm clouds form
7. Extremely heavy rainfall

Question 10

Why is our climate so different from a tropical rainforest

Answer 10

On the equator the Sun is always high in the sky. It is often overhead at midday. The vertical rays of heat have only a small area to heat up so temperatures are therefore always high. In places like Britain the Sun is much lower in the sky. It is never overhead. The rays of the heat have much larger area to heat up. Temperatures are therefore never as high. 

Question 11

On a climate graph how do you represent rain versus temperature

Answer 11

Rainfall=bar graph+ scale on the left(mm)
Temperature=line graph +scale on the right (degrees)

Question 12

What are the 5 layers of a tropical rainforest

Answer 12

Emergents
Canopy
Under canopy
Shrub layer
Forest floor

Question 13

How much sunlight does each layer of the tropical rainforest get

Answer 13

Emergents= all sunlight
Canopy= 3/4 sunlight
Under canopy= 1/2 sunlight
Shrub layer= 1/4 sunlight
Forest floor= 0 sunlight

Question 14

Describe emergents

Answer 14

Emergents are the tallest trees and are usually over 50 feet tall. The Kapok tree is an example of an emergent. (Good hardwoods of high value on the market)

Question 15

Describe the canopy

Answer 15

The sea of leaves blocking out the sun from the lower layers is called the canopy. The canopy contains 80% of wildlife. This includes birds, snakes and monkeys. Lianas (vines) climb to the canopy to reach this sunlight.

Question 16

Describe the under canopy

Answer 16

The under canopy mainly contains bare tree trunks and lianas

Question 17

Describe the shrub layer

Answer 17

The shrub layer has the densest plant growth. It contains shrubs and ferns and other plants needing less light. Saplings of emergents + canopy trees can also be found here.

Question 18

Describe the forest floor

Answer 18

The forest floor is usually dark and damp. It contains a layer of rotting leaves and dead animals called litter. This litter decomposes rapidly (within 6 weeks) to form a thin humus which is extremely rich in nutrients.

Question 19

What do plants have to do in a tropical rainforest

Answer 19

The vegetation has to adapt to the climate. By adapt we mean that it has to learn to live with the constant high temperatures and the heavy rainfall.

Question 20

How have emergents adapted to the climate

Answer 20

-The tallest trees have developed huge buttress roots to stop them toppling over and provide stability.
-The soils is poor so plant roots grow close to the surface to grab nutrients (shallow roots)
-Thick vines called lianas just loop around tree trunks to tech that sunlight so they can photosynthesis (they are bit like ropes)
- Air plants or epiphytes forget about roots and perch up high on branches

Question 21

How has high up leaves developed ways to protect themselves from the heavy rainfall of the rainforest

Answer 21

Some will have
-sharp edges= keeps hungry things away
-thick waxy coat=protects against rain and insects
-drip tip = lets rain drip off

Question 22

What is meant by the term fragile eco system

Answer 22

Their cycles can be easily broken by disturbances and they are very vulnerable/ sensitive to change, requiring a long time to recover

Question 23

What happens if one slight change occurs to an ecosystem

Answer 23

Any change on one part of your ecosystem will have an effect on all the other parts

Question 24

What are some examples of things that bring around change in an ecosystem

Answer 24

A period of unusually dry or wet weather
A disease that affects plants or animals
The arrival of an alien species of plant or animal

Question 25

What is meant by the term resilient ecosystem

Answer 25

Most ecosystems will be changed for period of time but will eventually regulate themselves and go back to normal. Such ecosystems are said to be resilient.

Question 26

Describe a fragile ecosystem

Answer 26

However, some ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to disturbances, especially as a result of human activity. These are fragile ecosystems and it is more difficult for them to read adjust. permanent changes to the ecosystem may occur.

Question 27

Describe a short version of the nutrient cycle (DDTTT)

Answer 27

1. Dead leaves an animal waste fall all year round to the forest floor 2. Decomposes release the nutrients from this litter 3. The soil down here is poor because the nutrients don’t get a chance to sink in (washed away quickly by the heavy rainfall) 4. The shallow roots quickly take up the nutrients again 5. The nutrients help the vegetation to grow

Question 28

Describe a healthy nutrient cycle (LONTT)

Answer 28

-Leaves an organic matter fall to the forest floor -Organic matter is recycled by decomposers e.g. fungi bacteria -Nutrients constantly returned to the soil for absorption by trees via roots -Tree roots help to maintain soil structure -Trees and other vegetation thrive with a constant supply of nutrients

Question 29

Describe an unhealthy nutrient cycle due to deforestation

Answer 29

-Supply of leaves and other organic matter stops (due to the loss of trees by deforestation) -The nutrients in the soil are dissolved by rainfall -Throughflow of rainwater leaches nutrients away from the soil making soil infertile -soil is no longer protected by vegetation and held together by the root systems of trees -trees and other vegetation cannot regrow without nutrients. 

Question 30

What is deforestation

Answer 30

Deforestation is the large scale cutting down of a rainforests

Question 31

What are some reasons for deforestation?

Answer 31

Land for farming - large areas are often cleared for cattle ranching by burning the forest Logging -demand for hardwood( expensive ones like mahogany) Mining - companies exploring for oil or metal ore Transport -governments want to improve access around their country i.e. new roads